Anti-theft device and method for fuel dispensers

Abstract

An anti-theft device and method for securing and preventing access to components within an interior of a fuel dispenser cabinet having an access door located on one side of the cabinet. The device includes structure for securing the anti-theft device to the periphery of the cabinet, structure for preventing the anti-theft device from being laterally and vertically removed from the cabinet, and a releasable assembly for selectively allowing and preventing access to the interior of the cabinet through the door.

1. An anti-theft device and a fuel dispenser cabinet on which the anti-theft device is installed to secure and prevent access to components within an interior of the fuel dispenser cabinet, the fuel dispenser cabinet being secured to a foundation and having upper and lower margins, sides defining a periphery and vertical corners of the fuel dispenser cabinet, an access door located in a first side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet, and a fuel nozzle carriage located on the first side above the access door, the anti-theft device comprising:
 first and second frame units, each of the first and second frame units comprising vertical legs joined by a first cross-member oriented transverse to the vertical legs, the first cross-member of the first frame unit being positioned beneath the fuel nozzle carriage and across the access door and preventing access to the interior of the fuel dispenser cabinet through the access door; and 
 releasable means for selectively allowing and preventing access to the interior of the fuel dispenser cabinet through the access door, the releasable means comprising means for securing the first and second frame units together so that the anti-theft device surrounds the periphery of the fuel dispenser cabinet, the first cross-member of the first frame unit is positioned beneath the fuel nozzle carriage and across the access door, and the vertical legs and the first cross-members prevent the anti-theft device from being laterally and vertically removed from the fuel dispenser cabinet. 
 
     
     
       2. The anti-theft device and the fuel dispenser cabinet according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second frame units are installed on, respectively, the first side of the fuel dispenser cabinet and on a second side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet opposite the first side, and the securing means of the releasable means comprises a second cross-member that is disposed on a third side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet and couples the first and second frame units together. 
     
     
       3. The anti-theft device and the fuel dispenser cabinet according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the second cross-member has a first end pivotably coupled to the first frame unit and a second end releasably coupled to the second frame unit; and 
 the releasable means further comprises means for locking the second end of the second cross-member to the second frame unit. 
 
     
     
       4. The anti-theft device and the fuel dispenser cabinet according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-theft device is prevented from being lifted off the fuel dispenser cabinet by the first cross-member positioned beneath the fuel nozzle carriage of the fuel dispenser cabinet. 
     
     
       5. The anti-theft device and the fuel dispenser cabinet according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cross-member engages the lower margin of the fuel dispenser cabinet to prevent the anti-theft device from being lifted off the fuel dispenser cabinet. 
     
     
       6. The anti-theft device and the fuel dispenser cabinet according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second frame units has a solid one-piece construction. 
     
     
       7. The anti-theft device and the fuel dispenser cabinet according to  claim 1 , wherein the vertical legs are positioned at and cover at least portions of the vertical corners of the fuel dispenser cabinet associated with a corresponding one of the first and second sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet. 
     
     
       8. The anti-theft device and the fuel dispenser cabinet according to  claim 1 , wherein the securing means of the releasable means comprises:
 a first locking cross-member that is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to a first of the vertical legs of the first frame unit and releasably coupled at a second end thereof to a first of the vertical legs of the second frame unit so that the first locking cross-member is disposed on a third side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet and couples the first and second frame units together; and 
 a second locking cross-member that is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to a second of the vertical legs of the second frame unit and releasably coupled at a second end thereof to a second of the vertical legs of the first frame unit so that the second locking cross-member is disposed on a fourth side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet and couples the first and second frame units together. 
 
     
     
       9. The anti-theft device and the fuel dispenser cabinet according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second frame units are installed on, respectively, the first side of the fuel dispenser cabinet and on a second side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet opposite the first side, and the securing means of the releasable means comprises first and second locking cross-members that are disposed on, respectively, a third side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet and on a fourth side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet opposite the third side. 
     
     
       10. An anti-theft device adapted to secure and prevent access to components within an interior of a fuel dispenser cabinet having sides that define a periphery and vertical corners of the fuel dispenser cabinet and further having an access door located in a first side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet, the anti-theft device comprising:
 first and second frame units adapted and configured to be assembled together so that, when the anti-theft device is installed on the fuel dispenser cabinet, the first and second frame units are installed on, respectively, the first side of the fuel dispenser cabinet and on a second side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet opposite the first side, each of the first and second frame units comprising vertical legs joined by a first cross-member oriented transverse to the vertical legs thereof, the vertical legs being adapted and configured to cover the corners of the fuel dispenser cabinet from one of the first and second sides thereof to one of oppositely-disposed third and fourth sides of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet between the first and second sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet, each of the first and second frame units having a solid one-piece construction; and 
 releasable means for selectively coupling and uncoupling the first and second frame units to respectively allow and prevent access to the interior of the fuel dispenser cabinet through the access door, the releasable means comprising first and second locking cross-members adapted and configured to secure the first and second frame units together and enable the anti-theft device to surround the periphery of the fuel dispenser cabinet, each of the first and second locking cross-members being pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to one of the vertical legs of one of the first and second frame units and adapted to be releasably coupled at a second end thereof to another of the vertical legs of the other of the first and second frame units so that the first and second locking cross-members are disposed on the oppositely-disposed third and fourth sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet. 
 
     
     
       11. A method of installing the anti-theft device of  claim 1  on the fuel dispenser cabinet of  claim 1  to secure and prevent access to the components within the interior of the fuel dispenser cabinet, the method comprising:
 installing the first and second frame units on the fuel dispenser cabinet so that the anti-theft device surrounds the periphery of the fuel dispenser cabinet and the first cross-member of the first frame unit is positioned beneath the fuel nozzle carriage and across the access door located on the first side of the fuel dispenser cabinet; and 
 operating the securing means of the releasable means to secure the first and second frame units together so that the anti-theft device surrounds the periphery of the fuel dispenser cabinet, the anti-theft device is prevented from being laterally and vertically removed from the fuel dispenser cabinet, and the first cross-member of the first frame unit is positioned beneath the fuel nozzle carriage and across the access door to prevent access to the interior of the fuel dispenser cabinet through the access door located on the first side of the fuel dispenser cabinet. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the operating step comprises pivoting a second cross-member that is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to a first of the vertical legs of the first frame unit and coupling a second end of the second cross-member to a first of the vertical legs of the second frame unit so that the second cross-member couples the first and second frame units together. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the operating step further comprises locking the second end of the second cross-member to the first of the vertical legs of the second frame unit. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the operating step further comprises:
 pivoting a third cross-member that is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to a second of the vertical legs of the second frame unit and coupling a second end of the third cross-member to a second of the vertical legs of the first frame unit so that the second cross-member couples the first and second frame units together; and 
 locking the second end of the third cross-member to the second of the vertical legs of the first frame unit. 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the securing step comprises:
 pivoting a first locking cross-member that is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to a first of the vertical legs of the first frame unit so that the first locking cross-member pivots across a third side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet; 
 releasably coupling a second end of the first locking cross-member to a first of the vertical legs of the second frame unit so that the first locking cross-member couples the first and second frame units together; 
 pivoting a second locking cross-member that is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to a second of the vertical legs of the second frame unit so that the second locking cross-member pivots across a fourth side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet; and 
 releasably coupling a second end of the second locking cross-member to a second of the vertical legs of the first frame unit so that the second locking cross-member couples the first and second frame units together. 
 
     
     
       16. A method of securing and preventing access to components within an interior of a fuel dispenser cabinet secured to a foundation, the fuel dispenser cabinet having upper and lower margins, sides defining a periphery and vertical corners of the fuel dispenser cabinet, an access door located in a first side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet, and a fuel nozzle carriage located on the first side above the access door, the method comprising:
 providing an anti-theft device comprising first and second frame units, the first and second frame units each comprising vertical legs joined by a first cross-member oriented transverse to the vertical legs thereof; 
 placing the first and second frame units at, respectively, the first side of the fuel dispenser cabinet and a second side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet opposite the first side so that the anti-theft device surrounds the periphery of the fuel dispenser cabinet and the first cross-member of the first frame unit is positioned beneath the fuel nozzle carriage and across the access door located on the first side of the fuel dispenser cabinet; and 
 securing the first and second frame units together so that the vertical legs and the first cross-members of the first and second frame units prevent the anti-theft device from being laterally and vertically removed from the fuel dispenser cabinet and the first cross-member of the first frame unit is positioned beneath the fuel nozzle carriage and across the access door to prevent access to the interior of the fuel dispenser cabinet through the access door located on the first side of the fuel dispenser cabinet. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the securing step comprises pivoting a second cross-member that is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to a first of the vertical legs of the first frame unit and coupling a second end of the second cross-member to a first of the vertical legs of the second frame unit so that the second cross-member couples the first and second frame units together. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the securing step further comprises locking the second end of the second cross-member to the first of the vertical legs of the second frame unit. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the securing step further comprises:
 pivoting a third cross-member that is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to a second of the vertical legs of the second frame unit and coupling a second end of the third cross-member to a second of the vertical legs of the first frame unit so that the second cross-member couples the first and second frame units together; and 
 locking the second end of the third cross-member to the second of the vertical legs of the first frame unit. 
 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the securing step comprises:
 pivoting a first locking cross-member that is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to a first of the vertical legs of the first frame unit so that the first locking cross-member pivots across a third side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet; 
 releasably coupling a second end of the first locking cross-member to a first of the vertical legs of the second frame unit so that the first locking cross-member couples the first and second frame units together; 
 pivoting a second locking cross-member that is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to a second of the vertical legs of the second frame unit so that the second locking cross-member pivots across a fourth side of the sides of the fuel dispenser cabinet; and 
 releasably coupling a second end of the second locking cross-member to a second of the vertical legs of the first frame unit so that the second locking cross-member couples the first and second frame units together.